Croatia Coastal Cruise
September 11-18, 2027
Itinerary | Flights | Pricing | Reserve
A week cruising the islands that dot the Dalmatian Coast aboard a private 38-passenger motor yacht. Great restaurants for your evening ashore, swimming in isolated bays, Cycling through national parks, sampling great Croatian Wine.
This seven night cruise aboard MV Ave Maria takes you from Dubrovnik to Trogir with stops in Slano, Mljet, Korčula, Brač, Hvar, and Vis.
- This tour includes:
- Seven nights aboard MV Ave Maria
- Breakfast and lunch each day
- Captain’s Dinner on board
- Taxes, local guides
- National Park admission
- Transfers from Split to the ship
- Transfers from the ship to Dubrovnik Airport
Items not included in your tour costs:
- Personal items
- Some meals
- Gratuities
7-night Itinerary
Day 1-Saturday September 11 DUBROVNIK – ŠIPAN or SLANO
Included: Lunch
Departure from Dubrovnik harbor Gruž at 13:00h (late arrivals can join in Slano), lunch is served while navigating along the Dalmatian coast either to one of the Elaphiti islands – Šipan, or to the small village Slano on the mainland. Both are peaceful fishermen’s villages where there is often a fabulous sunset. Overnight in the port.
Day 2-Sunday September 12 ŠIPAN or SLANO – NP MLJET – KORČULA
Included: Breakfast, Lunch
After breakfast, cruise towards the island and Mljet National Park (entrance fee not included, to be paid on the spot). Lunch on board. Free time to enjoy the salt lakes in the National Park and enjoy the sun and sea on this tranquil island. The large lake is inside the National park, and in the middle one can visit an old abbey and church, or just use a canoe to roam around the lakes in the National Park. Bicycles can also be hired to cycle around the paths surrounding the lakes.
We continue to the island of Korčula where we arrive in the late afternoon. Join our guided tour of Korčula (included on Premium Superior). Surrounded by ancient walls and fortified bastions Korčula’s old town is very well preserved with its layout and structure dating back to the 13th century. Overnight in one of the ports of Korčula, depending on availability (the main port in the town centre/ port of Dominče / ferry port (3 km away).
Day 3-Monday September 13 KORČULA – BIŠEVO ( BLUE CAVE), VIS / KOMIŽA
Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Early in the morning, cruise toward the little island of Biševo to visit the Blue Cave, a magnificent natural phenomenon. The visit depends on sea conditions; entrance tickets are paid on the spot. After the cave, continue toward the island of Vis, once a strategic harbour for the Yugoslav navy and closed to the public for decades. Thanks to that isolation, Vis kept the rare charm of “the Mediterranean as it once was.”
Overnight will be in Vis or Komiža (depending on berth availability). Vis sits on the northern side of the island, developed near the remains of ancient Issa, the first urban centre in Croatia. If you feel like exploring, visit the Roman Thermal Baths and the City Museum, or enjoy a walk along the waterfront with views of the villae rusticae scattered along the shore. For travelers who want to see more, renting a car or scooter is an easy way to discover the rest of this surprisingly wild island.
Day 4-Tuesday September 14 VIS / KOMIŽA – HVAR
Included: Breakfast, Lunch
The next destination is the tiny island of Šćedro near the Hvar island. Upon arrival, time to relax and refresh in the clean, crystal blue sea. Departure towards Hvar after lunch, followed by an optional guided tour (included on Premium Superior).
Hvar is the longest island in the Adriatic. Visit the magnificent Renaissance cathedral with its original tower and the oldest community theatre in Europe which was founded here in 1612. Hvar offers plenty of restaurants, bars cafes and clubs, open long into the night. Overnight in the Hvar harbor.
Day 5-Wednesday September 15 HVAR – BOL – MAKARSKA
Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Leave Hvar behind and continue cruising towards the island of Brač, heading to the town of Bol, best known for its famous Zlatni rat beach (Golden Horn), a natural phenomenon of distinct shape and form. Directional winds and waves cause the shape of the beach to often change.
Enjoy a walk through the pine forest from Bol to the Golden Horn beach or ride the tourist train (with an additional fee). After the lunch onboard, cruise towards Makarska, a town with a Mediterranean feel. During a stroll, discover numerous churches and other architectural and cultural sites. Overnight in port.
Day 6-Thursday September 16 MAKARSKA – PUČIŠĆA
Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Captain’s Dinner
Today’s destination is Pučišća, a typical Mediterranean village, situated on the northern side of Brač island at the bottom of a deep bay. But before reaching it, stop for swimming and relaxing in some secluded bay along the route. After lunch on board, explore Pučišća, home of the world-famous white stone of Brač. There is a possibility of visiting one of the few stone masonry workshops left in Europe. Overnight in the port with the Captain’s dinner onboard.
Day 7-Friday September 17 PUČIŠĆA – TROGIR (Marina Baotić)
Included: Breakfast, Lunch
After breakfast, depart from Pučišća and cruise towards Marina Baotić, a modern marina located just 2 km from the UNESCO-listed town of Trogir. Surrounded by the Adriatic and offering beautiful open-sea views, the marina provides a relaxed and comfortable final evening on board. Upon arrival, organized one-way transfer to Trogir for a guided tour, followed by time to explore some more independently and enjoy the historic squares and lively waterfront promenade, before returning to the ship in Marina Baotić. Overnight in Marina Baotić.
Day 8-Saturday September 18 TROGIR (Marina Baotić)
Included: Breakfast
Gather for one final breakfast, followed by goodbyes with all the new friends and the crew, before they see you off in the Marina Baotić (Trogir) Optional transfers to Split. Check-out by 9:00
Pre-cruise time in Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik is also worth a few days on your own to explore. It’s always nice to get on the local time and refresh yourself after an overseas flight. Larger hotels are located outside the walled city. Take a look at VRBO or AirBnB for lodging inside the walled city. Keep in mind that you might be making a significant climb to your accommodations in town. Read the property description carefully.
Pre-cruise time in Dubrovnik
Post-cruise time in Split
Split is a very interesting city with outstanding architecture, incredible history, top-notch restaurants, and night life. While I do not have a specific pre-cruise tour package to offer, I encourage you to extend your stay for 2-3 nights after the cruise. Split is not an inexpensive city, and you should expect to pay $350 or more for a nice hotel in the center of the antique city. VRBO for a home or apartment rental is a much better way to go. I stayed in one 9 years ago with AC (a must!), in an excellent location for less than $200 a night for an apartment with a bath.
You’ll have a transfer provided to you from the center of the inner harbor to the ship in Trogir, or you can make your way there by Uber. The transfer is likely to be scheduled for 1:00 PM, and will be confirmed as we get closer to the event. Cost to transfer on your own is estimated to be $40 per car or $70 for a van.
Getting There: Arrive Dubrovnik/Depart Split
Flight schedules and fares are generally available to book 330 days in advance. For a round trip fare, this must be 330 days from the return dates.
You’ll want to arrive in Dubrovnik (DBV), which is just about 30 minutes by car from the departure pier. On the return, you will depart from Split (SPU), which is just 20 minutes from the pier in the town of Trogir. The city of Split is very close to the international airport. If you are staying over in Split (recommended) or just flying home right after the sailing, Split is your airport. The ship departs for the week on Saturday, September 11th, so you’ll need to depart the USA the day before.
Your departure city will be Split (SPU), departing for home on the 18th unless you are staying over on your own or joining the second tour in Prague. In this case, your return flight will depart from Munich (MUC) on September 28th.
As you search for flights, I recommend using Kayak.com and Google Flights to determine which airlines have competitive fares and reasonable schedules. Use these tools to search, but purchase your ticket directly from the carrier to avoid issues down the line.
Keep in mind connection times through European hubs. I will not connect through Paris with less than 2 hours. I suggest a minimum of 2 hours with London, Frankfurt, Munich, or Amsterdam. If you miss the boat, you lose a day of fun, and you have to catch us at the next port. It’s not a costly penalty, but will take time.
These sample flight suggestions are from Seattle, my home airport for much of my travels. Lufthansa, British, Air France/KLM/Delta all have competitive fares. Since the ship will depart Dubrovnik at 1:00 PM, you must arrive before noon to make this. Another compelling reason to come in a day or two early.
I expect that fares from the west coast should be in the $1200-$1500 range for coach class. Expect about double that for premium economy. Set a fare notification with Google Flights or Kayak to provide notification of lower fares.
Weather in Croatia for September
Expect ideal conditions with highs between 80-90, lows in the mid-70s, with low precipitation and cloud cover. Perfect for swimming off the back of the ship. It’s hard to imagine a better time to visit.
Documentation
You’ll need a passport with at least 90 days validity from your departure from the country. Considering that many of the countries you’ll connect through will require 3-6 months of validity, make sure your documents are up to date. No visa is required at this time, though the EU is still working on an electronic visa program that may be in place by 2027. You’ll be notified of any changes.
Pricing
Costs:
Pricing is by category and is “per person”, based on double occupancy. Single pricing is 200% of the share price. Cabin sizes vary, but all include the same amenities.
Lower Deck (portholes) Cabin 1-8 $2,650
Upper Deck (window, balcony) Cabin 9-19 $3,750
Pricing includes accommodations on board, all breakfasts and lunches, dinners as indicated, port taxes, national park fees, guides for tours, and our on-board tour manager. Initial deposit is $1,000 per person to confirm your reservation. Balance of payment is due March 31st, 2027. Payment by Visa or Mastercard is welcome. If you choose to pay for this cruise by check/Zelle/ACH, a discount of $175 per cabin is deducted from your final payment. Once registration is complete, you’ll receive confirmation of the reservation and either a link to make payment securely online or instructions for wire/check/Zelle.
The initial early booking discount for the cruise expired at the end of February 2026, but was replaced with another incentive. For lower level cabins only, you can save $400 per cabin for bookings confirmed by September 1st 2026. Lower level cabins don’t have a balcony, but they are larger, quieter, darker for night time sleeping.
What if I need to cancel my flight, tour or cruise?
Because payments are non-refundable, it’s strongly suggested that you consider travel insurance for this investment. The exception to this is in the event that a replacement is found to take the place of a cancelling party.
Both of the companies listed below have a policy rate calculator online. Enter the cost of your tour and personal data to receive a no-obligation cost estimate. Two recommended companies are:
Generali Travel Insurance
Travelex Insurance
Cancellation insurance will range in price based on the cost of your travel and the age of the applicant. Get a quote at the websites above before making a purchase. If you have a pre-existing condition to cover, you usually must purchase your policy within 2 weeks of the initial deposit.
Make Your Reservation!
If you have any questions about this tour, please contact Brad Cilley at brad@nwtravel.com by phone at 425 375 2676.